When social media goes wrong: Peeple app that lets anyone review you without consent stirs up anger

It's time to start being nice and acting professionally as there's a new app called Peeple that will allow anyone you meet the chance to review and rate you. Dubbed the Trip Advisor or Yelp for people it's causing controversy and panic in equal measure as anybody can be slated (they can be rated too, but don't count on it) in reviews posted on the app and you can't opt out of it.

Anyone you've ever interacted with, worked with or been in a relationship with can get the chance using Peeple to air all they think about how you are as a human being by assigning you a star rating out of five and the opportunity to write a review. They can do all of this without your consent or even needing you to know about it. If you object, you can't even be removed and you can't challenge negative reviews unless you sign up for the service yourself.

How Peeple app works

The Peeple app will allow anybody to enter you into the system if they have your phone number and can confirm you know the person in one of three categories: professional, personal or romantic. But it only takes one person to add your details to the database and review you and it opens it up to anyone on the service.

If someone you do not know posts something you can email to ask to have it taken down – but that's only if you notice it. Any negative ratings or reviews will be queued in the system for 48 hours so you can contest any character assassination, while positive reviews will go live immediately. Needless to say there are quite a few people who have something to say about this:

Peeple was created Julia Cordray and Nicole McCullough, two Canada-based tech entrepreneurs who wanted a tool that would help them decide whether their neighbours would be suitable and trustworthy with their children.

However, the horribly invasive app raises concerns over shaming and bullying and that it gives people the power to publicly shame anyone they may have only had a fleeting moment with. Both Cordray and McCullough claim they want to "spread love and positivity" with Peeple but it doesn't take even the most optimistic person in the world to know that's not how the internet comments often work.

Anyone who wants to sabotage your career or relationship could easily do so – even though you know who is posting it could potentially cause irreversible damage. The fact you cannot be removed from the app is probably the most frightening aspect and how your identity can be subjected without you being able to do anything about it could cause untold stress and harm.

But there are some ethical stipulations with Peeple: you must be 21-years-of-age or above and have an established Facebook account to use it. You must also post under your real name and cannot post sexist comments, mention health conditions or include any profanity.

Peeple will be released in November in a beta stage, so we may very well see changes like being able to be removed when it fully rolls out. From the number of heated comments and reaction we wouldn't be surprised if individuals would have to provide permission, or register themselves, in the finished version.

What do you think about the Peeple app? Should anybody have the right to review you or is it a massive invasion of privacy? Tweet us your thoughts @IBTimesUKTech